Automatic controlling and timing mechanism for full-fashioned-hosiery machines



J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Flled July 16, 1925 Nov. 13, 1928.

14 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

kuiw R Q QQ mmhm ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 13, 1928. 1,691,740

J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 lily-Z ff q 2W1 |||||||IIIIllIIllIIIHI'IIIIHIIIIHIIIIE' 1: lfil'lllll Illlflllllllllllllllllll INVENTOR BY J f ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 33, 1928. 11,591,740

J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed y 1923 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 13, 1928.

J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 HI I VENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

Nev. 13, 3928. 159mm J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 LGQL'MO J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Flled July 16 1923 Nov; 13, 1928.

14* Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR: 243w N Nu QNERN.

' ATTORNEY;$.

'NQV. I13, 392%,, 1,591,740

3. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 1925 l4 Sheets-Sheet 7 I 2/ j f .-7. 109 Z0! 15% ,MJ @C 2 0 we 1/1 .1 a jg m mm ' Nam 13 @1928.

J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES l4 Sheets-Sheet 8 ,Zfigiifi 510% ofiJkrz-AWJ @d Filed July 16, 1923 ATTORNEYS.

NW. 13 I928. IfiOIfilO J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1923 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 V H8 I 7 2 INVENTOR;

ATTORNEYS.

NW9, 1-3, R928, 1,@@31,74

J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 I INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

NW7, 13, 192%. LQQLZMQ J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING-MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 13, 1928.

. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR x T 1 f FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Flled July 16 1923 ATTORNE Nova 13, 1928. I LfiQlfMQ J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Filed July 16, 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 1% ATTORNEYS.

NW mac J. E. SHOEMAKER AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TIMING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED HOSIERY MACHINES Flled July 16 1925 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 ATTORNEY;

Patented Nov. 13, 1923.;

JAMESE. SHOEMAKER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING AND TI'MING- MECHANISM non. F'oLL-rAsmonEn-nosrnnY MACHINES.

Application filed July 16,

In full-fashioned hosiery machines as now constructed and operated dilficulty arises in properly controlling and timing the dilferent operations, sot-hat the hosiery will conform to definite standards and a uniform number of courses will be made in the different operations such as, for example, in the making of welt, the garter top, the narrowing, the splicing. and the other usual operations in a hosiery machine of this type. I

With the f0 egoing in view, my present invention comprehends a novel method of and apparatus for automatically controlling and timing the various operations involved in the making .of full-fashioned hosiery.

It further comprehendsa novel method of and apparatus for electrically controlling and timing the various operations involved in the making of full-fashioned hosiery.

Many other novel features of construction and advantage too numerous at this point to specifically mention will hereinafter more fully appear in the detailed description of the invention and the appended claims.

For the'purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings embodiments thereof which are at present preferred byme, since these embodiments will be found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arrangedand organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

It should also be understood that any form.

of current, polyphase, alternating or direct current, may be used for carrying out my new methodof automatically controlling knitting machines.

Figure 1 represents, in front elevation, a portion of a full-fashioned hosiery machine in conjunction with which electrically operated controlling and timing mechanism embodying my invention is employed.

Figure 2 represents, in sectional elevation, a portion of the machine showing the brake mechanism for overcoming the momentum of the parts when the motor circuit is open.

Figure 3 represents a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing more particularly the means for operating the timing mechanism.

1923. Serial No. 651,705.

' 1111 of Figure 3 showing certain features of lthe timing mechanism.

igure 12 represents a se tion 0 1' 1212 of Figure 11. c n me Figure 13 represents a section on line 13- 13 of Figure 11.

F1gure 14 represents a longitudinal seclcliion thtroliggh it) part of itlhe control mechasm, a en eween t e in 'c 1%14 in Figure 11. d1 ator hues igure 15 re resents a seci 15- 15 of Figure M. t on on lme Figure 16 represents, in perspective and in detached position, an insulating member seen in Figure 15.

Figure 17 represents a longitudinal section through a part of the control mechanism taken between the indicator lines 1717 of Figure 11.

igure 18 re resents a section 18%18 of lFigure 17 on lme igure .19. re resents a section 1' 19 19 of Figure 17 we Figure 20 represents a sectional View of an insulating ring in detached position.

Figure 21 represents, in-perspective and in detached position, a contact member employed.

Fig. 22 represents a longitudinal section through a part of the control mechanism taken between the indicator lines 22-22 in Figure 11.

Figure 23 represents a section on line 2323 of Figure 22.

Figure 24 represents a section on line 24- 24 of Figure 22.

Figure 25 represents, in perspective and in detached position, an insulating member seen in Figure 24. 1

Figures 26 and 27 represent, respectively, in section, a portion of Figure 23 showing the relative positions of certain parts at different times.-

the knitting operation. 4 designates the hand wheel shaft, which is intergeared with the motor shaft to be driven by it.

5 designates the slide rod which controls Figure 28 represents, in perspective and in, the starting and stopping of the machine by means of a primary switch 6, the construction detached position, the contact member seen in Figure 23. v

Figure 29 represents a section on line 29-29 of Figure 11.

Figure 30 represents 3030 of Figure 11;

Figure 31 represents 3131 of Figure 11.

Figure 32 represents 3232 of Figure 11.

Figure 33 represents 33-33 of Figure 11.

Figure 34 represents 34-34 of Figure 11.

Figure .35 represents 3535 of Figure 11.-

Figure 36 represents 3636 of Figure 33:

Figure 37 represents a 3737 of Figure 32.

Figure 38 represents, in perspective, another embodimentof switch mechanism which may be employed.

Figure 39 represents a section on line 39-39 of Figure 38.

Figure 40 represents a section on line 4040 of Figure 39.

Figure 41 represents a section on line 4141 of Figure 39.

Figure 42 represents, in plan, certain cooperating partsof 'thecontact mechanism seen in Figure 39.

Figure 43 represents, in side elevation, a

a section on line a section on line section on line section on line section on line a section on line a section on line section on line sents a ioned hosiery machine.

Figure 44 represents a section on line 4444 of Figure 1, of a narrowing-"control switch. Figure 45 represents a section on line 4545 of Figure 44. Figure 46 reprelan view of a portion of the pattern chain. Figure 47 represent-s, in perspective, the pattern chain and co-operating parts.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Refer ing to the drawings.

1 designates a full-fashioned hosiery machine of any conventional type, and since the construction and operation of machines of this'type are now well known to those skilled in this art, I have deemed it unnecessary to illustrate and describe thc entire hosiery ma-- chine, my invention relating more particularly to the controlling and timing mechanism for the different mechanisms which suc; cessively carry out the different requisite operations in the making of a stocking.

2 designates an electric motor, see Figure 1, by means of which the machine. 1s driven, said motor being lntergeared 1n the usual and operation of which will now be explained,

. see more particularly Figures 1, 38, 39 and 40.

, The primary switch.

The slide rod 5 has connected to it alink 7, the free end of which is connected to an arm 8, fixed to a shaft 9 j ournalled in the casing 01 the primary switch 6. The link 7 is connected to a sleeve 10, see Figure 38, to which is connected the inner ends of the springs 11 and 12, the outer ends of such springs being secured to fixed bearings 13 and 14, respectively so that when the slide rod 5 is moved from its neutral position, it will, when released, auto matically return to such neutral position. The shaft 9 has mounted on it a contact carrying arm 15, see Figure 39, on which are mounted the contacts 16 and 17, each of these contacts being mounted in a similar manner, it will be seen from Figure 39 that an insulating sleeve 18 is in threaded engagement with the contact arm 15 and has its end closed by of the primary switch 6 is provided with an insulating plate 24. The plate 24 carries a contact segment 25 which merges into a segment of insulation 26, the contact segment 25 having connected to it a conductor 27 see Figure 40. Beneath thecontact segment 25, v is a contact segment 28 which merges into an insulating segment 29 and this contact segment 28 has connected with it a conductor 30. The binding post 23,'see Figure 39. has connected to it a conductor 31, see Figure 10. The conductor 30, see Figures 1, 10 and 40, is connected with an electro-magnet 32 which controls the main switch 33, so that, when the switch 33 'is closed, the circuit is closed shaft 3, see Figure 1, to actuate themechanisms driven and controlled thereby.

As soon as the switch 33 closes the circuit, the current flows through the line 41 to a 65 manner with a cam shaft 3, which controls solenoid 42 returning by the line 43, see Figure 10. The solenoid 42 controls the brake mechanism which co-operates with the hand wheel shaft 4 to effect its release when the motor 2 starts, and to set the brake mechanism when the motor 2 stops.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 10, I will describe the brake mechanism'for thehand wheel shaft 4.

Brake mechanism for the hand wheel shaft. The shaft 4- has mounted on it a friction wheel 44 around which passes a frictionband- 45 one end of which is secured to a fixed point, as at 46, while its opposite end is connected to one end of a link 47, the other end of said link being connected to a bell crank lever 48, suitably fulcrumed and connected with the armature of the solenoid 42, so that, when the armature is energized, the brake 45 will be released, and, when de-energized, it will be set by the spring 49. The hand wheel shaft 4 is provided with a gear which meshe's'with a gear 51 on the cam shaft3, see more particularly Figures 3 and 4.

The cam shaft 3, see Figure 3; is provided with a sprocket wheel 52 around which passes a sprocket chain 53 which also passes around a sprocket wheel 54 mounted on a shaft 55 journalled in the timer casing 56 of the timing mechanism which latter will now be described.

Timing mechanism.

driven from a'pinion 58 on said shaft 55, with a shaft 59 journalled in the timer casing 56 to effect the drive of such shaft 59. In practice, the ratio between the shafts 55 and 59 is ten to one for a twelve hundred course stocking, the ratio varying in accordance with the number of courses in the stocking. The shaft 55 is provided with a worm 60, see Figures 11 and 12, which meshes with a worm gear 61 on a shaft 62 journalled 1n the timer casing 56. 'This shaft 62 1s provlded with a worm 63 which meshes with a worm gear 64 mounted on a shaft 65 suitably journalled in the timer casing 56. The arrangement is such that the shaft 55 revolves, relatively to the shaft 65, in the ratio of twelve hundred to one for a twelve hundred course stocking.

The shaft 65 has mounted on it, and insulated from it, a conducting disc 66, see Figures 11, 13 and 14, on the periphery of which a brush 67 rides, said brush being pivotally connected at one end with an arm 68 which ismounted on and insulated from a rod 69 journalled in the timer casing 56. A spring 70 is provided, one end of which is connected to the arm 68, while its opposite end is connected to the brush 67 to retain it in contact at all times with the conducting disc 66. A conductor 71 is connected with the arm 68.

In proximit to the conducting disc 66, a timing disc 2 is mounted on and insulated from the shaft 65, see more particularly Figures 14 and 15. The disc 72 is provided near its periphery with a dove-tailed groove 73 in 70 which are adjustably mounted the insulating members 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78, respectively, each of which is provided with an upwardly extending lug 79, see Figure 16, and with tapered side walls 80 so as to fit in the groove 73, one wall of which is formed by a removable ring 81, see Figure 14.

- 82 designates a brush which is carried by an arm 83 which is mounted on and insulated from the shaft 69, said arm having connected with it one end of. a spring 84, the opposite end of which is connected to the brush 82. A conductor 85 is connected to the arm 83.

Referring'now to Figures 11 and30, the 85 conductor 85 is connected to a spring actu ated brush 86 pivotally carried by an arm 87 fined to a supporting rod 88, and adapted to ride on the periphery of a conducting disc 89 having an insulated portion 90.- The disc 99 89 is electrically connected through its hub with a disc 91 on the same shaft 55 but insulated from said shaft. A brush 92, see Figures 11 and 29, rides on the periphery of the disc 91, said brush bein spring actuated and pivoted to an arm 93 fi xed on the shaft 88.. The brush 92 is connected with a conductor 94 connected to a spring pressed brush 95 carried by and insulated from a supporting rod 96. The brush 95 is connected by a conductor 97 with the switch 33 and thereby with the line 35.- The line 31 is connected with the spring pressed brush 98 carried by and insulated from the supporting rod 96, said brush 98 being connected by line 99 with the brush 86. The brush 98, see also Figure 32, rides on the periphery of a conducting disc 100 mounted on and insulated from the shaft 59 and having an insulated portion 101. The brush 95 rides on the periphery of a conducting disc 102, see also Figure 31, mounted on and insulated from the shaft 59.

.The above described circuits control the starting and stopping of the machine, as will be clearly set forth in the description of the operation. Y

The fashioning 01' narrowing.

tivoly connected with the cam to be actuated by it, then actuates the ratchet 120 in the .usual manner. When the next high lug 121 comes into the path of the trip 123,

, the narrowing mechanism is automatically tact with the brush 126, the current passing to'disc 133 through the hub of said disc, see

Figure 22, to brush 134, from brush 134 by line 135 to brush 136 which is mounted on and insulated from the shaft 96' and rides on the'periphery of a disc 137, having an insulated portion 138 and a contact 139,- see Figures 10 and 35.

When in operation andt he contact 139 of the disc 135 engages the brush 136, the cur,- rent will flow through discs 137, 140, 141, 100 and 102, brush 95, line 97 and line 35.

During the formation of the garter top the narrowing begins and as will be understood by those skilled-in this art there are three narrowing operations during the knitting of the. stocking and during all of this narrowing the sped of the motor is automatically reduced.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 44 1304'? inclusive, it will be seen that the pawl 204 is provided which isconnected by means of a link 205 with a fixed lever 206, the shaft 207 of which isconnected with a contact carryingarm 208 mounted within the casing of the automatic speed reducing switch 209. 210 designates an insulated plate mounted within the switch casing. The contact 211 is in electrical connection with a conductor 212. The insulated plate 210 carries a contact segment 213 with which is adapted to engage the contact 211. A conductor 214 leads from the contact segment 213 and connects with line 103, see Figure 10. The line 212 leading from the movable contact 211 is connected with a magnet 215 which in turn is connected by a line'2l6 with the line 97, see Figure 10. The electromagnet 215 controls the switch 217 in such a manner that on the electromagnet 215 being energized the switch 217 is closed and on being tie-energized the switch 217 is opened.

The opening of the switch 217 cuts in a portion of the resistance 108 of the secondary winding of the motor- 2 and thus reduces the speed of the motor. The main pattern chain is provided with the contact lugs 218 which control the pawl 204 and thereby the automatic speed reducing switch 209. v

Referring now more particularly to Figure 10, the line 103 is connected to the switch 33 with line 36 and it is also connected with the line 104 having an electro-magnet 105 which controls the switch .106. The line 104 leads to aspring actuated brush-109 carried by and insulated from the rod 69 and adapted to ride on the periphery of a co1iducting disc 110, see Figures 10 and 24, mounted on and insulated fronrthe shaft 65. The disc 110 has an annular groovelll in its periphery in which is circumferentially adjustable an insulated portion 112. The current passes from the disc 110 to the disc 200 through the hubs of said disc thence to the brush 201 and by line 203 to return line 97 and thence to the main switch 33. I

Tight and loose stitching.

The current flows by line 103 from feed line to solenold 142 to line 143 to brush 144 to disc 145 to disc 146, to brush 147, from the brush 147 by line 148 to brush 149 of the disc 141, said disc having the insulation ring 150 therein, see Figures 10 and 34. The current,

closed by the contact member 153, passes from brush 147 to disc 141, thence to discs 100 and 102, to brush 95, to line 97, to feed line 35, the disc 145 having on its periphery the groove 152 adapted to receive and retain the contact member 153, said groove being formed by the insulated rings 154 and 155, respectively. This may be more clearly seen from Fig ures 17, 18 and 20.

To loosen stitch.

The current passes by line 103 from feed line 36 to solenoid 156, see Figure 10, to line 157, to brush 158, which, being ri idly held onthe insulated shaft 69, and in contact with the disc 159, whose construction is the same as disc 145, the current passes through said disc by way of contact member 160 and the hub of said disc to the disc 161, through said disc to contact brush 162, which is carried by the insulated shaft 69. The current passes from said brush 162 to line 163, to contact brush 164 on-the insulated shaft 96, from said brush 164. the current passes through the inbrush 95 to line 97 to line 35.

lVhen the stitch is to be tightened, the current passes from line 36 and line 103 to the solenoid 142, which is energized, due to the contact 153 on the disc 145, see Figure 18, en-

gaging the brush 144 which is connected by line 143 with said solenoid 142. The current passes from disc 145 to disc 146 and brush 147, and by line 148 to brush 149, so that when the contact 151, see Figure 34, engages the brush 149, the currentpasses by discs 100 and 102, brush 95 and line 97 to line 35.

The contact 153 of the disc 145 comes into engagement with the brush 144, four hundred and thirty courses from the beginning of the welt, or after four hundred and thirty revolutions of the drive shaft 55. When the solenoid 142 is energized, see F igures 7 and 8, it draws the'arm 167 upwardly, and this arm has a slot 168 therein to. receive the pin 169 of the arm 170, which actuates the shaft 171 of the stitch control in the direction indicated by the arrow marked a see Figure 8.

172 designates a lever mounted on and hinged to the shaft 171 and having the ratchet teeth 173 on the periphery of the hub 174 of said lever. I

175 designates a flat spring fastened to the arm 176 which frictionally holds the lever in the position for tightening the stitch of the leg portion, said stitch being tightened for sin hundred and ten courses, which is the length of the leg portion, or 610 revolutions of the drive shaft 55.

\Vhen the stitch is to be loosened, the contact 160 of the disc 159 comes into engagement with the brush 158, after 1040 revolutions have been made. The solenoid 156 is then energized, see Figures 7 and 8, thus drawing the arm 177 upward, giving motion to the shaft 171 through the pin 178 of the arm 170 extending into the slot 179 of said arm 17?. and the shaft 171 is rotated in the dirci-tion indicated by the arrow 7) see Figure8, thereby actuating the lever 172 in a direction to effect the loosening of the stitch.

When the solenoid is energized, the loose stitching will be knit to the end of the stocking, which takes place during one hundred and sixty courses or revolutions of the shaft 55.

I will now describe the entire operation of the controlling and timing operation with reference to the making of a full-fashioned stocking such as seen in Figure 43.

Assuming now that the fullfashioned hosiery machine employing my novel controlling and timing mechanism is ready to begin the making of the stocking, the operator moves the sliderods 5 to the right in the direction of the arrow A seen in Figure 10 thereby closing the circuit through the primary switch 6 and energizing the electro-magnot 32 to close the circuit through the main switch 33. This starts the motor and the making of the welt 185 begins. I will first explain the operation of the primary switch 6. \Vhen the slide rod 5 is moved to the right. as before explained, the lever 8 is moved and thereby the contact carrying arm 15 so that the contacts 16 and 17 are brought into contact with the contacts 25 and 28, respectively. The circuit is closed by the current passing through the feed or lead wire 35, line 27 contact segment 25, contacts 16, wire 22, contact 17, contact segment 28, line 30 to electro-magnet 32 and thence to line 36. This energizes the electro-magnet 32 and effects the closing of the main switch 33.

' As soon as the slide rod 5 is released by the operator, thelever arm 8 returns to its neutral position. The contacts 16, see Figure 39, have now passed out of engagement with the contact segments 25 but the contact 17 is still in engagement with .t-hecontact segment 28. The current now passes from line 36 to electro-magnet 32, to contact segment 28, to contact 17, line 22 to line 31, the brush 98, through line 99 to brush 86, thence through line 85 to brush 83. The wheels 100, 89 and 72 are in multiple with the wheels 102, 91 and 66 so that the current returns by line 97 to line 39. The shaft 55 is connected with the cam shaft 3 to be driven at the same speed and each revolution ofv the cam shaft 3 and likewise of the shaft 55 produces one course in the stocking. The shaft 55 revolves ten times to one revolution of the shaft and the shaft revolves once for 1200 revolutions of the shaft 55 assuming of course that a 1200 course stocking is to be produced. The conducting-disc or wheel 100 has the insulating member 101, see Figure 32, the disc 89 has the insulation 90, see Figure 30, and the timing disc 72, see Figure 15, has the insulating members 74, '75, 76, 77 and 78. During the formation of the welt, the discs 100, 89, 72 revolve until their brushes register with the respective insulating members of such discs which causes" the circuit to be broken, electro-magnet 32 is deenergized and the main switch 33 opened. This opening of the main switch 33 releases the solenoid 42 thereby permitting the-spring 49 to draw up on the member-47 and tighten the brake band 45 around the brake drum 44 fixed to the shaft 4. The welthas now been completed and the next step is the formation'of the garter top. The operator moves the slide rod 5 in the direction of the arrow a, see Figure 10, as before explained, the circuit being closed in the same manner as that already described and the straight knitting of the.

garter top begins. This straight knitting continues until the first narrowing operation. Referring now to Figures 22 and 23, it will members 128 and 129 on which rides the brush 126. The disc 127 revolves in the direction of the arrow seen in Figure 23 and as soon as the contact member 130 is brought into engagement with the brush 126, the circuit is closed through the discs 127 and 133. The current comes from the line 97 to brush 95. the disc 102 and the hubs of discs 100, 141, 140 and 137, the periphery of which latbe seen that the disc'127 has the insulating ter is insulated except by the contact member 139, so that when this contact member 139 is engaged by the brush 136, the current passes through line 135 to disc 133, to disc 127, from disc 127 by line 115 through solenoid 116 and returns by the line 103. The solenoid 11 6 is now energized thereby drawing down the levers 117 and 118 thereby causing the pawl 119 to co-operate with the ratchet 120, see Figures 5 and 6, and the pattern chain 122 will be advanced one step and the stop lug 121, see Figure 47, will be moved from beneath the trip arm 123 so that the main driving pawl124 will be permitted to move into operative engagement with the ratchet 120 and the pattern chain 122 Wlll be advanced until the next stop lug 121 of the pattern chain is positioned beneath the trip arm 123 to render the driving pawl 124 inoperative, see also Figure 5.

Prior to the beginning of the narrowing operation a pattern lug chain 218 comes into the path of the lever 204 so that the speed of revolution of the motor will be reduced during the narrowing operation, as will be now explained. a When a lug 218 raises the lever 204, see Figure 47, the lever 206 of the speed reducing switch will be brought into the position seen in Figure 45 thus opening the 011'- cuit and de-energizing the magnet 215, see Figures 10 and 47, thus causing the switch 217 to open.. This opening of the switch 217 cuts in a portion of the resistance 108 of the secondary winding 107 of the motor 2. This reduces the speed of the motor '2 at a time which is one revolution of the cam shaft be- 3 fore the narrowing operation actually begins.

This stays in during the narrowing but as soon as the lever 204 passes off of the-lug 218, the lever 206 will be moved into such position that the circuit will be closed through the contact 211 and the contact segment 213 thus energizing the magnet 215 to'efiect the closing of the switch 217. This cuts out the resistance and the motor will now run its full speed during the straight knitting between the narrowings. The same operation takes place in the three different stages of narrowing such as, for example. the narrowing 220, during the making of the garter top, see Figure 43, during the narrowing 221 in the leg of the stocking and during the narrowing 222 during the making of the heel of the stocking. The narrowing operation is accomplished in the usual manner of a fullfashioned hosiery machine and a detailed description is believed to be unnecessary, the construction for effecting the narrowing being shown more specifically in Figure 9.

It will be seen from Figure 9 that the foot pedal 193 is locked in position by means of the lever 194 to prevent its upward lnovemei'it. so that the link 195 is reta iuing the roller arm 196 and the narrowing shaft ,197 in its up ward position, the roller 198 being out of the path of the cam 199, so that the narrowing mechanism may be locked in its inoperative position when desired. It will of course be understood that if desired the link 195 may be out of the path of the roller carrying arms 196 so that the narrowing mechanism is electrically controlled and timed.v

In the knitting of a 1200 course stocking, the knitting of the gater top 186 takes place through 150 courses andthe narrowing takes place through twenty courses. The welt is designated 185 in Figure 43 and after the welt is finished, it is turned over and knitted, as shown at line 186. After the garter top is finished, the machine stops at line 187 and the character of the stitches now changes from a loose to a tight stitch, as already explained. The last four courses of the cotton garter top are formed with a loose stitch so that the silk or other material which forms .the leg can be interstitched at such place. The leg 188 is then formed and in a 1200 course stocking has 540 courses. After 240 courses have been formed, the fashioning or narrowing automatically starts and continues for 140 courses in the manner already explained.

The manner in which the stitch is tightened or loosened has already been explained. The high splice 189 begins at line 190 and continues to line 191, see Figure 43.

During the knitting of the high splice the insulating member 112, see Figure 24, is beneath the brush 109 so that the circuit in line 104 is broken and the magnet 105 is deenergized to open the switch 106, see Figure 10, which throws in a portion of the resistance 108 so that the speed of the motor is reduced during the knitting of the high splice. As soon as the insulating member 112 passes out of contact with the brush 109, the magnet will be energized and the switch 106 will be closed so that the motor will operate at full speed. The circuit for this operation is through line 103, electro-magnet 105, line 104, brush 109, disc 110, disc 200, brush 201, line 203, line 97 to line 39 also line 35. The motor is now runningat full speed and the formation of the heel begins at line 191. Just prior to this the loose courses 223 begin as the machine changes from silk to cotton. The nar-' rowing 222 takes plate during the formation of the heel, as already described. Afterthe heelis finished the stockings thus far completed are removedfrom the machine and the foot and instep are formed on the usual machine. After the heel is finished, the machine begins the formation of the welts of the next lot of stockings."

It will of course be understood that while I have explained herein the automatic controlling and timing of a 1200 course stocki ug that I do not intend to "be limited to the manufacture of stockings with this number ol courses as the number of courses varies 

